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Quincy Gibbs, DDS

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Home For Patients What Are Inlays And Onlays?

What Are Inlays And Onlays?


Posted on 12/15/2023 by Weo Admin
Elderly couple smiling and brushing their teeth in the bathroom mirrorInlays and Onlays are dental restorations fabricated in a dental laboratory. They are employed to repair large cavities. These restorations are custom-made to match the cavity's specific size and shape. Inlays and Onlays are commonly put on molars and premolars, offering a durable solution for damaged and decayed teeth.

Inlays and Onlays are manufactured using porcelain material since it closely resembles natural teeth, enhancing the visual appeal for patients. Inlays are small porcelain pieces designed to fit precisely within the grooves of a tooth without extending beyond the cusps. On the contrary, onlays are typically more extensive than inlays and are used to cover huge cavities that extend beyond the cusps of the tooth.

Types of Inlays and Onlays


Onlays and Inlays come in two categories:

Direct Onlays and Inlays

The dentist crafts direct inlays and onlays directly in the dental office. It takes only a single visit to get direct inlays and onlays; hence they are convenient for the patient. During the procedure, the dentist removes the decayed tooth portion and applies resin to it. Subsequently, the dentist places the inlay or onlay onto the tooth, cementing it in place, and then proceeds to polish the restoration.

Indirect Onlays and Inlays


These dental restorations are fabricated in the dental laboratory, which extends the overall process. The patient requires two visits. The procedure for indirect inlays and onlays shares similarities with the direct method. Initially, the dentist removes the decayed portion of the tooth. However, in this case, the treated tooth is temporarily filled to allow the creation of the inlay and onlay using tooth impression. During the patient's second visit, the dentist removes the temporary filling and cements the custom-made inlay or onlay to the tooth. The final step involves polishing the restoration, similar to the direct procedure.

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Dr. Keith and Dr. Petrini have been proudly serving the Grater Bay Area community for many years and pride themselves on performing excellent services in general dentistry and dental implants.
Dental Implant Center at Walnut Creek, 1111 Civic Drive, Suite 320 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 ^ (925) 266-3550 ^ implantcenterwc.com ^ 2/5/2025 ^ Related Phrases: dental implants Walnut Creek CA ^